Length of stay: 1 day
Visited: April 2025
Nestled in the Southern Alps, Mount Aspiring National Park features a dramatic landscape of towering mountains, glaciers, turquoise rivers, untamed wilderness and mossy forests. It is the third largest national park in New Zealand and is reputed to contain some pretty epic mountaineering routes and adventurous trails through the mountains. But there’s also some shorter and easier hikes too, many of which are in the forest along the road towards the West Coast.
We spent the night in a quaint little cabin in the woods in Makarora. It rained overnight and it was still lightly raining the next morning. We were looking for an excuse for a slow start anyway so we didn’t mind the rain. After eating breakfast we checked out and hit the road. We planned to spend the morning in Mount Aspiring, stopping at some of the shorter trails on the way.
Our first stop was at the Blue Pools (3km loop, rated easy). It’s one of the most popular trails in the park and is known for its crystal clear blue waters. Except the bridges were closed for construction. There was a sign to indicate that you could still hike part of the trail up to the first bridge, but there were no views of the Blue Lakes. We figured we were already here, so gave it a whirl. The path is mostly gravel and is relatively flat. It leads down to the construction site by the river. The colour of the water was beautiful so we can only imagine how much clearer it is by the pools. We’ll have to use our imagination (or Google Images).
Our next stop was at Fantails Falls where there’s a super short trail along a paved path to a pebbly beach overlooking the falls. We walked a bit further on the beach to get a better view.
We were back in the car for a short stretch before pulling over again at Thunder Creek Falls. There’s another short path that’s paved that leads to another waterfall plunging into the Haast River. I’m sure all the recent rain made the falls seem even livelier.
We were saving the best for last in terms of hiking with Roaring Billy Falls, although it was still a fairly short trail. By this time there were quite a few cars out on the road and the parking lot was mostly full. It was the Easter long weekend after all. To get to the falls required a bit more hiking, but the path is relatively flat and leads through an incredibly scenic dense forest filled with ferns, palms and moss covered trees. We had to jump over a few puddles here and there, but for the most part, the path was in decent shape despite the rain.
The path leads down to the river with a wide pebble beach. We didn’t realize how windy it was until we were out in the open. After taking a few pictures we raced back to the forest. The falls themselves were nice, but the real highlight was the walk through the forest.
Baby M was ready for a nap so we hopped back in the car. We still had another two hour drive to get to Fox Glacier where we planned to spend the next couple of nights.
L
That forest is magical!
Totally! The lush mossy forest looked like something right out of a fairytale. And the light sprinkling of rain just added to the atmosphere.
So incredibly beautiful! Wow, thank you for sharing the beauty, Linda!
Thanks for your kind words John. Despite the rainy weather, the forest still looked enchanting. And I’m sure it made the waterfalls appear even livelier.
You are welcome, have a great week!
You as well! After having such a dry summer and fall, the rain has finally caught up with us.
Good news!
Yes! I never thought I’d enjoy the rain so much, especially in the fall. It’s the perfect excuse to just stay indoors, curl up under a blanket and read a good book (or get caught up on WP)!
Yes! There are days like that here in the desert too actually. I’m retired so it’s nice to just stay home sometimes. ☺️☺️
Sounds lovely. I’m looking forward to retirement! Perhaps we’ll even move somewhere warmer. The older I get the more I tend to dislike the cold.
I totally get that. It’s 83 in Las Vegas today.
Sounds lovely! It’s currently 36F/2C here in Ontario. Brrrr.
Bbrrr
New Zealand certainly is beautiful. I enjoyed your article and photos.
Thanks for your lovely comment. It’s incredible how varied the landscape is in New Zealand, but regardless of where you are, the scenery is always beautiful.
Mount Aspring National Park looks like a wonderful place to explore, Linda. The forest looks so beautiful with those moss-covered trees due to their lush, intricate appearance, which sort of creates a mystical and tranquil atmosphere, and so does the colour of the river. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
You described it nicely Aiva. The forest definitely looked magical and mystical, perhaps even more so in the rain. Thanks for reading. Hope you had a lovely weekend.
🥰🥰🥰
So lad you got there Linda. We really enjoyed the waterfalls in this area on our 2014 visit. We had better weather, but it does look nice in the drizzle too. What amazed us here was the varied geology of the stones in the river, particularly at Roaring Billy. Thanks for the memories. Enjoy your weekend. Allan
I guess we shouldn’t have been too surprised with the rain considering we were hiking through a rainforest. But thankfully it was just lightly raining. While it would have been nice to explore the pebble beach at Roaring Billy Falls, the wind was no match for our umbrellas! Hope you had a wonderful weekend as well. And hopefully you’re all (or mostly finished) packed for your upcoming trip!
The forest is stunning and looks very atmospheric with the moss, palms and ferns. I love the cabin, it’s adorable. It’s a shame the bridges at the Blue Pools were closed and you couldn’t see the views over the lakes, as the water’s a beautiful colour.
The cabin was pretty basic, but it was cozy and warm and had everything we needed. Plus it was in such an incredibly scenic location. It was a bit of a bummer that most of the trail to the Blue Pools was closed, but at least there were other good options to choose from.
Oh my gosh, what a cute cabin! Those are some really pretty waterfalls too. Hopefully that made up for the bridge closures and missed pools.
The cabin was very cute and cozy. It had everything we needed for a comfortable visit. And we were surrounded by nature. It doesn’t get much better than that sometimes. It’s too bad most of the trail around the Blue Pools was closed, but thankfully there were a few other hiking options along the drive, even if they were super short.
It looks like you had a comfortable night in the A-frame. Too bad about the construction but your photos show some gorgeous landscapes, Linda. What a beautiful area.
Thanks Lynette. In hindsight I really should have taken a few pictures inside the cabin too. It was very cozy, especially given all the rain. It was too bad that most of the trail around the Blue Pools was closed as it’s supposed to be a highlight of the area. But at least we got to still enjoy the enchanting rainforest.
What a great little cabin!
The cabin was very cute and comfortable. It had everything we needed for the night. One of the things we really enjoyed about New Zealand is that there are many small independent hotels and motels. We managed to stay in some pretty unique places, like this cabin.
That’s a great idea having small independent hotels. This one looks fantastic, glad to hear it was good inside too.
I must say, the service and hospitality was outstanding in many of the smaller places we stayed at. But that could also be because New Zealanders in general are very friendly!
They really are!
What a gorgeous place!
The green and mossy forest was very enchanting, even in the rain. I still remember the earthy smell.
Your cabin in Makarora looked very cute Linda and your forest walks delightful. It was a shame about the rainy weather but at least you got to see the waterfalls in full flow! Another great post touring NZ.
There aren’t many places to stay in the area, but we were delighted to have come across these cute little cabins. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was warm and comfortable. And completely surrounded by nature. The rain wasn’t ideal, but you’re right, it made the waterfalls look even livelier.
Those hikes, falls and blue water were quite magical! Those rock formations reminded me of Inukshuks too!
You three have a knack for finding cozy quirky accommodations and love the quaint cabin that you found in the woods!
We loved that there weren’t many big hotel chains in NZ, but rather many of the accommodation options were smaller family-run businesses. The cabin was pretty basic inside, but it had everything we needed. Plus the bed was comfortable. I regret not taking any pictures inside.
The forest looks like something out of a fairy tale. Stunning photos!
Oh I know! It reminded me of the rainforests in the West Coast of Canada and in Washington and Oregon, just without the tall trees. Everything looked so lush and green.
Oh my, yes it certainly does at that!
Love that little cabin! I guess you guys have seen more than your fair share of waterfalls on the South Island, right 😉? And beautiful forests.
Thanks Corna. The little cabin was pretty rustic, but it was comfortable and cozy. Plus it was in the middle of the forest and was very peaceful. We lost track of just how many waterfalls we saw in the South Island. And same with the number of scenic forests. Not a bad problem to have!
That cabin looks very cozy! I can just imagine that water on a sunny day. The hikes sure look beautiful despite the overcast day!
The cabin was definitely very cozy. It was one of the more unique places we stayed in while visiting NZ. And agreed, I imagine the water would look even more vibrant and vivid on a sunny day. It was still very scenic even in the rain.
I love the mossy trees. My friend John sends me many pictures of the mossy trees . They look so majestic and magical. The forest alone would be enough to have me hooked. I like how when you mentioned being unable to see the body of water you wanted to see and stated of I could find it with Google. Google does everything . It’s so great . The waterfalls you caught are great. It makes me wonder how cold the water would be
I’m such a fan of mossy trees too. You’re right, it makes the forest look so mystical and magical. It’s funny because I had the same impression – sure, the waterfalls are beautiful, but the forest was the star of the show. I imagine the water would be pretty chilly given that we were visiting in the middle of fall and the temperature was cooling down, especially overnight.
What a wonderful place, the forest, the waterfalls, the bridge and everything else is just so pretty. Loved your cute little cabin too!
The forest looked mystical and magical, perhaps even more so in the rain, which certainly made the waterfalls appear more lively. The cabin was a lovely little spot to stay. It was one of the more memorable places we stayed in while visiting NZ.
Wow these are all amazing photos! Apologies if I’ve said this already about your previous photos on this journey, but it looks like a fairytale land. 🤩 The trees are especially gorgeous, as is the color of the water.
Thanks so much Rose! The mossy rainforest looked magical, perhaps even more so in the rain. We don’t have forests like that in Ontario!
Rain, rain, no wonder New Zealand is so green. Thank you for braving the rain to bring back these beautiful photos.
Ha, no kidding! And I guess they don’t call it the rainforest for nothing! It was much tougher to hike in the rain with our little one, but we came up with a pretty good system and stuck to the shorter and easier trails.
Two days ago, I just jokingly said that I’m in New Zealand. It’s so beautiful there, Linda. I love the mossy trees, the forest, and the falls. That adventure surely is an unforgettable one. Hugs to sleepy baby M. I’m late, I missed this.🤭
You’re absolutely right about how our trip to New Zealand was unforgettable. The scenery continues to amaze and inspire us. It’s a wonderful place to enjoy nature.
How beautiful!! The landscapes and woodland in NZ really are straight out of a fairytale!
Oh I know! Even in the rain, the forest looked enchanting with all that moss and greenery. The waterfalls were pretty, but the walk through the forest was the star of show.
You made the best if a rainy day. As others have said that forest is magical. Your cabin is also adorable. Maggie
Oddly enough, the rain seemed very fitting considering we were in the middle of a rainforest, and if anything, just added to the whole experience. The cabin was a bit basic, but had everything we needed. It was very peaceful and one of the more memorable places we stayed.
Beautiful! I love those moss covered trees- between the trees, waterfall, and stacks of rocks it seems you stepped into the perfect backdrop of a story 🙂
Totally! It was all very visually appealing and the scenery looked very enchanting. I could have done without the rain, but at least it wasn’t windy in the forest.
The trees seem absolutely dripping with moss and growth. There are waterfalls everywhere in the South Island!
The forest looked like something right out of a fairytale. We quickly lost track of how many waterfalls we saw on the South Island when we visited Milford Sound in the rain. Just incredible.
I’m sure the rain really made the waterfalls come alive!
It really did. I’ve never seen anything like it before. It looked like someone had just poured a giant ladle of water over the mountains.
😄
So incredible and inspiring post 🌷🙏👍🏻Enjoying the beauty of the forest, it’s waterfalls , and the beauty of the trees planted are actually magical 🤩👌 and dear you beautifully presented some very literary writings also , admiring the
earth wonders 😯thank you for sharing my dearest friend and your loving family 💞🌷🖖 Best Wishes
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. You’re absolutely right about how the forest looked magical, even though it was lightly raining. It was a lovely spot to go for a hike through the mossy forest.
Thank you so much for likes my feedback and most welcome my friend ❤️🙏🌷 All The Best Wishes dear and Happy weekend 👍👏🌷
You as well! Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
I usually prefer sunny days to overcast skies. However, in the case of this national park, it looks like the thick clouds and thin mist actually made it look more atmospheric. The forest, with the waterfalls and everything else, looks magical!
Me too. But for some reason, the rainy weather added to the whole ambiance and seemed fitting since we were in the middle of the rainforest. You’re right, it all looked magical and enchanting.
From the blue pool, cabin, waterfalls, forest and everything in between, the images are so dreamy. I’m glad you had a wonderful trip.
You are too kind. We had a wonderful time in New Zealand and still can’t get over how beautiful the scenery is. Mount Aspiring National Park was very picturesque with all that greenery, even in the rain.
What a cute little A-frame! They just don’t make them like that anymore. And the hike through the mossy forest on the way to the waterfall sounds like an experience unto itself… I can sense the clean air! What a lovely retreat from the wind.
I know! We don’t come across too many A-frame cabins. It was a bit rustic, but quite comfortable and had all the modern day necessities that we needed – heating, electricity and running water. We also didn’t need to do as much driving the next day because we were already in the national park. The mossy forest was delightful, even in the rain.
What a wonderful and amazing journey.. What a joy.
It looks magical there, and I love your waterfall photos, so beautiful!
Thanks for your kind words. The moss made the forest look so mystical and magical, perhaps even more so in the rain. At the very least, I’m sure the rain also made the waterfalls seem more lively.
This is such a magical place to explore. The cabin looks really cosy. Shame that you missed out on the Blue Lakes. “Closed due to construction” really is the bane of any travellers existence.
It’s too bad most of the trail to the Blue Lakes was closed as that was one of the reasons why we settled on this route to get to the west coast. Oh well, we filled our time by visiting a few waterfalls instead.
The forest looks like it taken from a fairytale!
I think that doesn’t really matter how long you travel, there is always something more to do and see, but out of curiosity, how many weeks have you been there? and what was your favourite part of NZ?
Oh I know. The forest looked enchanting with all that moss. And the light sprinkling of rain added to the experience. You’re absolutely right about how there’s always something more to see. Nature is always full of surprises. We were in NZ for five weeks. It’s hard to pick a favourite part, but I’ll narrow it down to three spots: Milford Sound, Mount Cook and Hobbiton.